Mending Loneliness

By Bashfulglowfly

Chapter One - Saturday 10:11 a.m.

Soichiro Sakurazuka settled in for a long study session. It was quieter here amongst the stacks in the public library than it was at the library at school or in the dorms. Admittedly, he didn't really mind helping out his schoolmates with their schoolwork but it did get tiresome sometimes. And he wanted to go over the biology paper that was due in four weeks. Just because it was its fifth draft didn't mean there wasn't something wrong with it.

"Hi!" chirped a cheerful voice.

Soichiro took deep breaths to calm his pounding heart. This was the first time ever that someone…anyone…had ever found him here.

He looked up and found himself staring at a girl with the longest hair he'd ever seen. He figured that if she undid the round balls on either side of her head, it would probably reach the floor.

"Hi!" repeated the girl, bouncing on her heels.

"Um…hello." He said awkwardly.

"I'm Usagi! And you are?"

"Busy." He tried to sound gruff to scare her away. He knew his looks wouldn't do it. His strawberry-blond hair and bottle green eyes accompanied by delicate features were a long way from scary.

It didn't work.

Usagi grinned. "'Busy', huh? Strange name. Hopefully it's a nickname not your real name. Otherwise one would think that your parents really hated you before you were even born."

Soichiro glared at her. "What do you want?"

She shrugged and looked around. "Isn't it a bit lonely here?"

It was Soichiro's turn to shrug. "Maybe I like being alone."

Usagi shook her head. "No. You don't."

Soichiro stared at her. It was obvious that she was younger than he was. Perhaps a middle school student. But for a brief moment, she had looked…timeless.

"I don't like being alone?" he scoffed. "Then why am I here…alone."

She smiled. "Because you haven't found the right people to be with yet."

"And who are they?"

She smiled, this time a sad smile. "You aren't ready for their names. Yet, at least." She leaned forward and crooked her finger at him. Soichiro leaned close as she whispered. "Many things have been done, both good and bad. They will hurt when you remember, but when all is said and done. You will be happy."

Soichiro leaned back in his chair and snorted with disgust. "You can't promise happiness."

Usagi stood up and walked to his side and stared down at him. Her blue eyes were calm. "You're right. I can't promise happiness. But, you can strive for it."

Soichiro opened his mouth to reply but Usagi reached out and touched him on the forehead between his eyes. White light flared across his vision. "Dream well, Zoicite."

When he was able to see again, Usagi was gone.